Amazon buys Lexcycle (maker of iPhone app Stanza)

Who didn't know that Amazon was serious about ebook readers? Kindle's been stoking readers? burning desire to read digitally on the go for years, not to mention its recent App Store entry, Kindle for iPhone. Now, the ebook giant just acquired Lexcycle, maker of Stanza, another widely popular ebook-reading iPhone app.

Aside from the mobile version, Lexcycle also puts out Stanza desktop software for Mac and Windows, which syncs ebooks wirelessly with the iPhone. The app can read multiple formats, including the eReader type from Fictionwise, which was bought by Barnes & Noble in March.

Though Amazon and Lexcycle both make iPhone apps that read ebooks, the two companies will continue operating separately, at least for now. Eventually, there's got to be some crossover ? especially if they need to join forces to eradicate the threat from B&N/Fictionwise.

Who knew ebooks could be so exciting? And that's without even cracking one open.

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